{"id":2518,"date":"2026-03-18T13:01:59","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T13:01:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uzisibalkaninak.com\/?p=2518"},"modified":"2026-04-22T10:38:41","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T10:38:41","slug":"what-was-the-climb-to-sljeme-peak-2445-m-like-in-november","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uzisibalkaninak.com\/index.php\/en\/2026\/03\/18\/what-was-the-climb-to-sljeme-peak-2445-m-like-in-november\/","title":{"rendered":"What was the climb to \u0160ljeme Peak (2,445 m) like in November?"},"content":{"rendered":"

I\u2019ll take you to Montenegro, specifically to the Durmitor mountain range. It is part of the Dinaric Alps, which stretch across northern Montenegro, where it borders Bosnia and Herzegovina. The highest peak in Durmitor is Bobotov Kuk, at 2,523 meters. Durmitor is one of five national parks in Montenegro.<\/p>\n

This national park simply has everything a national park should have… High peaks, glacial lakes, deep canyons, and caves. There are plenty of hiking trails, ranging from easy to more challenging. I love coming back here, and I\u2019ll be taking you there in my future posts.<\/p>\n

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*Planning*<\/strong><\/p>\n

Before this trip, I had already visited Durmitor in the winter (February), when I experienced meters of snow, but also in August… though without the meters of snow \ud83d\ude42 I was very curious to see what it looked like there in the fall, so in November I made a spontaneous decision to travel to this tourist paradise and attempt some interesting hikes.<\/p>\n

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Winter fairy tale<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Summer fairy tale<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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I hadn\u2019t planned anything specific, since I know that the weather in the mountains\u2014and this goes for Durmitor as well\u2014has its own rules. From beautiful sunshine, through rain and fog, to snow-capped peaks. And that\u2019s exactly why I had to pack for all kinds of weather\u2026 you could say for all seasons \ud83d\ude42 \ud83d\ude42 .<\/p>\n

Sometimes the views in Durmitor are like this…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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*Accommodation*<\/strong><\/p>\n

When I\u2019m in Durmitor, I stay in the town of \u017dabljak. It\u2019s a small town with about 2,000 permanent residents. Thanks to its unique location at an altitude of 1,450 meters and its numerous lodging and dining options, it has become a major tourist hub, attracting many visitors from both home and abroad.<\/p>\n

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My oasis of peace is the Casa di Pino EcoLodge Hotel. The hotel features 8 guest rooms, ranging from double rooms to multi-bed suites, as well as a sauna, a massage room, and a cozy common area on the ground floor. The hotel owner has truly succeeded in creating a unique space with a family-friendly atmosphere. The perfectly prepared breakfasts made with local ingredients are worth mentioning. Delicious herbal teas made from herbs from the national park are a given, and excellent coffee is also available. The hotel is open year-round. If you want to see what one of the rooms looks like, click on the video below and check out my photos of the hotel as well.<\/p>\n

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*The Journey*<\/strong><\/p>\n

There are several ways to get to \u017dabljak. If you prefer to fly, you can purchase a ticket to Montenegro\u2019s capital, Podgorica, from where the owner of Casa di Pino provides a car transfer to the hotel. The flight takes approximately 75 minutes, and the transfer takes about 2.5 hours (depending on weather conditions, 133 km).<\/p>\n

Another option is to drive your own car. There are several routes to \u017dabljak; the shortest one (from central Slovakia) goes through Hungary and Serbia. The route follows the highway to the town of \u010ca\u010dak (about 140 km south of Belgrade). From there, the road becomes slower, with hairpin turns through the towns of U\u017eice, Zlatibor, Nova Varo\u0161, and Prijepolje, all the way to the Jabuka border crossing. From the border crossing, it\u2019s only 73 kilometers to \u017dabljak. I recommend stopping in the town of Plevlja to see the Husein-pa\u0161a Mosque and driving over the Tara River Canyon, which offers breathtaking scenery.<\/p>\n

The Tara River Canyon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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In November, I decided to travel to \u017dabljak via a longer but more comfortable route through Hungary and Croatia. I recommend this route only if you plan to stay overnight. The advantage is that the highway runs all the way to the Croatian town of Plo\u010de, and the journey is also made faster by the bridge connecting the mainland to Pelje\u0161ac, which was completed a few years ago. I spent the night in the village of Ora\u0161ac (about 15 km north of Dubrovnik), where I liked it so much that I extended my stay by another night. It was warm and sunny, and if it hadn\u2019t been for the strong wind causing big waves, I would have considered going for a swim.<\/p>\n

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From Ora\u0161ac, I traveled via Dubrovnik and the Gornji Brgat border crossing into Bosnia and Herzegovina, arriving at the very pretty Bosnian town of Trebinje (approx. 45 km), where I treated myself to a cup of fantastic coffee. I then crossed the Klobuk border crossing and passed through the town of Nik\u0161i\u0107 (Montenegro), I arrived at my destination in the town of \u017dabljak (approx. 135 km).<\/p>\n

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*Planning Activities in \u017dabljak*<\/strong><\/p>\n

The key factor in planning activities in November was, of course, the weather. Even though I\u2019ve done quite a bit of hiking, in situations like this I naturally prefer to consult with the locals, who know their mountains inside out and are familiar with their caprices in every season.<\/p>\n

And one of the activities they recommended was a hike up Mount \u0160ljeme. \u0160ljeme is the third-highest peak in the Durmitor mountain range, standing at an impressive 2,445 meters.<\/p>\n

I would like to point out that this is not a peak like any other. In reality, \u0160ljeme is an approximately 2-kilometer-long rocky plateau with an average elevation exceeding 2,400 meters. There are several peaks on this plateau, the most famous of which are Isto\u010dni vrh (Eastern Peak) at 2,445 meters and Vrh \u0160ljemena at 2,455 meters. My goal was Isto\u010dni vrh.<\/p>\n

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*An Ascent*<\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n

And the day of the climb finally arrived\u2014a day I\u2019d been really looking forward to. I\u2019d chosen the day based on the weather, and I have to say the forecast was spot on. At seven in the morning, it was still freezing (especially in the shade of the peaks), but the sun was already making its presence felt with its warm rays.<\/p>\n

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The best place to start the ascent to \u0160ljeme is the parking lot at the Savin Kuk ski resort, located near the summit of Vodena Glavica (1,533 m). It\u2019s a 7.5 km drive from \u017dabljak\u2026 just a stone\u2019s throw away \ud83d\ude09 . Towering directly above the ski resort is the mighty Savin Kuk (2,313 meters). It is \u0160ljeme and Savin Kuk, located north of it, that form the eastern edge of central Durmitor above the so-called Lake Plateau.<\/p>\n

Savin Kuk is the peak on the right<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Right at the start of the hike, something so wonderful happened that God sent me two guides for this trip. While I was still in the parking lot, two little puppy siblings ran up to me. They wanted to play and cuddle, and I just couldn\u2019t resist. And I had no idea yet that they would accompany me all the way to the end of the hike.<\/p>\n

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Starting with a gentle climb and later a steeper ascent, I reached my first destination, Panali Peak (1,813 m). This peak stands out prominently in the \u0160ljeme massif and serves as another starting point for continuing the ascent.<\/p>\n

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The little pups were so tired that they fell asleep, so I let them nap and continued on my way.<\/p>\n

The trail winds its way up the steep slope past the Korita and Osojna Greda rock formations and the \u0160upljika Cave to the \u0160ljeme mountain ridge. The views are breathtaking; there\u2019s nothing but emptiness all around\u2014just me, the local chamois (known locally as \u201cdivokoze\u201d), and silence…<\/p>\n

Chamois, Slovak-style<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Divokoze in serbian language<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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After crossing several ravines, I made it all the way to Isto\u010dni vrh. I didn\u2019t stay there long, because the higher I climbed, the stronger the icy wind blew, so I took a few (about 100) photos\u2026 hahaha\u2026 And I decided to head back down.<\/p>\n

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I\u2019m tired, but I get an incredible burst of energy when I see the dogs running toward me at the top. They\u2019d been napping and tracked me down. It filled me with strength and joy, and as a reward, I gave them a treat.<\/p>\n

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I\u2019m heading back along the same route, keeping an eye out for the wind, especially near the edge of the precipice. The dogs are faithfully following me, and I\u2019m savoring the breathtaking views and their company.<\/p>\n

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My guides and I arrive at the parking lot of the Savin Kuk ski resort. There, I\u2019m greeted by a huge Bernard, which startled me a little, so I jumped into the car with my backpack. After a moment, though, I plucked up the courage to try petting him. He was very friendly, used to people. The other dogs were barking at him, and it was clear they were a little afraid of him. It was hard for me to leave such good company, but my stomach was already churning. Luckily, I noticed in the car that the St. Bernard had left a sticky, 20-centimeter-long slobber mark on my pants as a souvenir. At least I had time to wipe it off before entering the restaurant.<\/p>\n

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The crowd behind me and the orchestra in my stomach quieting down in front of me \ud83d\ude09 . I chose the Or\u2019O restaurant<\/a> right in the center of \u017dabljak.<\/p>\n

Dobar tek!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The hike to \u0160ljeme isn\u2019t one of the longest; the round trip from the parking lot is about 9 km and can be completed in 5 hours at a leisurely pace. However, if you\u2019re having fun with the dogs and taking photos\u2026 it\u2019ll take you longer. But I don\u2019t mind, because the journey is the destination. The elevation gain is approximately 920 meters. It\u2019s a hike that anyone who\u2019s done some hiking can handle. No special gear is needed; in the winter months, crampons and an ice axe are sufficient. And of course, healthy legs, good lungs, and a cheerful attitude.<\/p>\n

If you decide to follow in my footsteps and need advice on accommodations, food, hiking trails, or other ways to spend your time in Durmitor, feel free to contact me via email at ajka@uzisibalkaninak.com or through my Facebook page, „Enjoy the Balkans differently.“<\/a><\/p>\n

Bok, Your Andrea<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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P.S.: All photos are protected by copyright \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

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 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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